Sunday: Oregon solar eclipse updates on traffic, crowds and events

Friday's blog: Updates from around Oregon

Saturday blog: Solar eclipse updates from around Oregon

Scientists gather, glass of wine in hand

EOLA-AMITY WINE COUNTRY, 9:30 p.m. – As out-of-state travelers drove down from Portland for the eclipse, some spent the day leisurely wandering through wine country. Others find wine country to be the destination.
At St. Innocent Winery, the tasting room buzzed with unusually large Sunday crowds, with visitors from California and Washington. Chau Dang and Marcus Woo flew from Santa Clara, California to Seattle, where they met family to travel down to Portland. Dang, a former solar physicist, hoped to meet with members of the American Astronomical Society, who plan to arrive in Salem by bus Monday morning. 

Farther North, at Brooks Wines in Amity, other Bay Area scientists and tourists arrived for a wine country campout.  More than 100 guests arrived Sunday for an evening of barbecue, live music and wine tasting, before theoretical astrophysicist Ethan Siegel talked through the power of a solar eclipse. 

Marc Levoy, a computer science professor at Stanford University, made reservations at Brooks and in Madras, planning to cancel his reservation at the place with worst expected visibility. He and his wife chose the estate, where the two have brought books on the history and science of solar eclipses.

“It’s nice to drop in on a culture and come together for such a historic event,” Levoy said.

Levoy wasn’t the only scientist at Brooks. Siegel, who writes for Forbes and formerly for NASA, mingled with wine tasters from Alabama and California in a twirled mustache and full kilt. 

“I want people to understand why solar eclipses are important for humanity and science,” Siegel said, “If I can have people find creative, fun ways to enjoy the eclipse and stay safe, I have achieved my goal.”

Scott Ponchetti, a Los Angeles native, will turn 50 during the solar eclipse, but astronomy isn’t the main draw for him. The event is for his wife; the location is for him.
“I love the wine, she loves the stars,” Ponchetti said.

— Brooke Jackson-Glidden

First eclipse delay in baseball history

KEIZER, 9:30 p.m. — When Andrew Otte of Mt. Angel heard about the Eclipse Game at Volcanoes Stadium several months ago, he marked down the date and purchased tickets.

Otte was at Volcanoes Stadium on Sunday with his son Michael, 11, and daughter Miranda, 13, for the Volcanoes game against the Hillsboro Hops.

While Michael was into the game, Miranda was interested in listening to NASA representatives talk about the total solar eclipse, which is expected to reach totality at the ballpark at 10:17 a.m. Monday. It will be the first eclipse delay in baseball history.

Andrew Otte purchased two Eclipse t-shirts and an Eclipse bat Sunday.

Fans entering the ballpark Monday will receive Eclipse glasses, “but we do have backups,” Otte said.

Pauline Mather of Salem, who was at Saturday’s game with her husband Richard, is excited about Monday’s historic event.

“We’ve been planning this all summer,” said Pauline, who purchased two Eclipse t-shirts Sunday.

As of Sunday afternoon, Volcanoes officials said a limited number of $35 outfield general admission seats were available for the Eclipse Game. There will be no day of game ticket sales. Gates open at 5 a.m. for with first pitch set for 9:35 a.m.

For ticket information, visit volcanoesbaseball.com or call 503-390-2225
 
-- Gary Horowitz

An eclipse playlist

SALEM, 9:30 p.m. — What better way to experience a potentially once-in-a-lifetime event than by pairing it with timeless music? 101.9 KINK FM plans to do just that for listeners tuning in Monday morning for the solar eclipse. The alternative, Portland-based radio station will start playing Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" album at 9:36 a.m. to reach the musical climax of the album when eclipse-viewers experience the nearly two minutes of totality. If Pink Floyd isn't your style, don't worry. From Spotify to the New York Times, countless outlets are providing pre-made eclipse soundtracks or lists of songs to check out to optimize your experience. Even the classic station 89.9 FM will air a special, eclipse-themed program from 8 a.m. to noon. So rock on, you eclipse-loving musicophiles, you. Rock on. 

— Natalie Pate

Eclipse? What eclipse?

NEWPORT, 8:50 p.m. — In Newport, Oregon, those huge crowds that were expected never materialized. And the folks who did show up seemed a lot more interested in hundreds of male sea lions bickering loudly atop barges and rock piles near the historic waterfront.

The animals seemed oblivious to the bands playing and eclipse merchandise on sale nearby.
As for their female counterparts, they're 600 miles away cooling their heels (tails?) in the San Francisco

-- Ruth Stroud

Volcanoes fans, employees ramp up eclipse excitement

KEIZER, 7:50 p.m. — If you have a ticket to Monday’s Eclipse Game at Volcanoes Stadium there will be something for everyone in terms of souvenirs to commemorate the first Eclipse delay in baseball history.

With totality expected to arrive at 10:17 a.m. Monday – the game between the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes and Hillsboro Hops will be delayed after the first inning – many fans at the ballpark Sunday were in souvenir mode.

Ashley Stickles, who worked in the Volcanoes' team shop on Sunday with Abby Forrest, said Eclipse t-shirts were a popular item.

Other souvenirs include EclipseFest baseballs, mason style jars, lanyards, a sheet of Eclipse stamps, mini bats, water bottles, sweatshirts, hoodies, blankets, hats and jerseys.

Gates for the Eclipse Game open at 5 a.m. and breakfast will be served from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. Opening pitch is scheduled for 9:35 a.m.

Volcanoes employees will be in the ballpark by 4 a.m. Monday. Some of them planned to spend Sunday night at Volcanoes Stadium. Talk about dedication.

“I’d rather be dedicated here than driving back and forth two hours,” said Forest, who would prefer to avoid potential traffic delays from her residence in south Salem.

Volcanoes co-owner Jerry Walker said excitement was building Sunday for the Eclipse Game.

“You can just sense it in the ballpark,” Walker said. “There’s a lot of people in the ballpark now that have never been here before that have traveled great distances to be here. They’re all excited. They’re flocking to the souvenir stands.”

— Gary Horowitz

Gates, Mehama wait for hungry tourists

Dan Deoliveira, Jeremy Tyler-Acree and a handful of helpers are all set to feed the eclipse hordes – if they ever come.

The group has a grill set up under a covered canopy just outside Canyon Canibus in Gates. The E. Central Street setup is a block off Highway 22, but the highway is a road much more lightly traveled than the al-fresco chefs anticipated this weekend.

“We expected lines, to tell you the truth,” Deoliveira said Sunday afternoon. “All the talk about the traffic – way, way overhyped.”

Stop-by diners have favored the pulled-pork sandwiches, and other fixings, such as sriracha onions, coleslaw and the like.

“We think it will get busier tomorrow; we’ll be out here until 8 tonight and right back here at 9 tomorrow morning,” Deoliveira added.

Highway 22 traffic seemed light but patrols were heavy; a midday drive between Salem and Mehama spotted four vehicles pulled over and another State Trooper poised and ready.

The parallel country roads seemed almost abandoned.

The Sublimity Harvest Festival grounds appeared to be filling out what host Scott Ingalls estimated on Friday: 80 tents and 40 RVs booked with about 400-plus total campers.

Up the road around Mehama a few tents were popping up, as they were farther up the road in Mill City where they perched above the North Santiam River adjacent to the bridge into downtown.

Linn County campground on the edge of Lyons also saw all of its 36 sites reserved for the weekend.
Mill City hosted what organizers hope will be the annual River City Music & Art Jamboree. 
 
— Justin Much

Foreign camper explores several eclipse-viewing options in Salem

SALEM, 7:20 p.m. — Some people came from other continents. Sarah Witts from Cornwall, England has been spending her summer volunteering to teach children about nature, but the lure of viewing a total eclipse was too much for the naturalist. 

She decided to descend on Salem’s Riverfront Park, after camping in someone in Salem’s yard Saturday night. 

Witts came to Salem from Portland intending to catch a bus to Lincoln City, but after figuring out the weather on the coast could be dicey decided on staying in Salem. 

“On the end, I just thought, well, okay, I’m here and I didn’t have anywhere to stay when I got here yesterday,” Witts said. “I met a guy at the station who told me about a site that’s called Warm Showers. It’s for cyclists, I’m not a cyclist.

“I basically posted that I wanted to put my tent up, and I had eight offers out of people around Salem of people offering me their garden. It’s a good welcome. Then I came down here today.”

A couple dozen tents had been set up at Riverfront Park as of Saturday night, but by Sunday afternoon that group of tents had doubled and more people were setting up tents by the hour. 

If the idea of camping in a city park seems odd to people in Oregon, it seems more strange to people form elsewhere. 

“That’s quite weird for me, too, to be honest,” Witts said. “I don’t know of any time in England when that would happen or they would allow that to happen. Even for an eclipse.”

At Wallace Marine Park, the grouping of a dozen tents from Saturday had doubled by Sunday, but plenty of choice spots were still available when people arrived in the afternoon. 

Jeff Salvon arrived Sunday afternoon from Portland with his fiancée, mother and a borrowed tent. 

They got an amazing spot with a perfect view of the Willamette River.

“I can’t believe how lucky we are,” Salvon said. “This absolutely amazing. Under a tree. We actually have a table. We walked up and thought we’d be amongst a forest of tents. We scored. We got the mojo, I guess.”

—Bill Poehler

The lighthouse and the eclipse

YAQUINA HEAD LIGHTHOUSE, 7 p.m. — There are many cool places to experience the Great American Total Solar Eclipse. The Lighthouse here, just a few miles up the road from Newport, holds the distinction of being number one. 

That’s just by a few seconds — but who’s counting, right? 

“This lighthouse is one of the furthest west points on the Oregon coast, and we will be the first place in the continental United States to see the eclipse,” said Jay Moeller, the chief park ranger for Yaquina Head. 

He’s got parking spots for 185 cars, but can fit as many as 5,000 people in total. Extras will have to find parking nearby and walk in. 

Originally, Moeller thought he’d have 5,000 visitors, but now isn’t so sure. “The town has been eerily quiet this weekend,” he says. “We expect lower than anticipated crowds.”

What happened? The media reported about big crowds and traffic congestion for the eclipse, “and I think a lot of people said, `I’m staying home.”

If you do make it out, “We’ve got 180 degree views of the ocean,” says Moeller. “Come here and claim the fact that you’re the first to see the solar eclipse, and the shadow of the moon as it races across the ocean and hits land.”

After the lighthouse, the eclipse’s path of totality continues to the bayfront in Newport, the first major gathering of people who will get to see the eclipse, before it heads to the Salem area. 

The largest Oregon crowds are expected in Madras, near Bend, home to a NASA sanctioned SolarFest viewing, which has attracted thousands of pilgrims.

— Jefferson Graham

Eclipse chasers not running low on fuel

SALEM, 6:30 p.m. – Gas stations in Salem reported generally normal sales the day before the total solar eclipse.

A Shell gas station off Highway 22 had geared up for high traffic, adding more staff than usual.

Afraid that Bend and Sisters would be out of gas, some customers got gas before heading to central Oregon, said Riley Martini, the station’s night manager. But sales were still maybe 70 percent of a normal Sunday.

“Haven’t got anybody to sell it to,” Martini said.

At the Safeway Fuel Station on Commercial Street SE, many fueled their cars Thursday.

Assistant Manager Chance Dornbusch said they were overrun then. The station normally sees 1,200 to 1,300 cars a day, but some 1,900 apparently came through Thursday.

Sales were largely on par for a normal Sunday, though, “maybe a tidbit slower,” Dornbusch said.

Cars with plates from Nevada, California and Washington have come through.

People are flocking here, but they’re “decently smart about getting gas,” Dornbusch said.

—Jonathan Bach

From Big D to Dallas O

DALLAS, 6 p.m. — The out-of-town visitors are beginning to pour in at the Dallas downtown eclipse celebration, said JD Shinn, CEO of the Dallas Area Chamber. He said he even met someone from a familiar city in Texas. 

“They’re switching Dallases for the weekend,” said Shinn, who’s been helping organize the event for nearly a year. “We decided that since we’re right here in the path of totality, we’re gonna have people coming in anyway, we might as well make a party out of it." 

Shinn said they’re hosting visitors from around the country, as well as places like China, France and Canada. They’re anticipating somewhere around 11,000-15,000 visitors for the weekend. 

The city is still offering some camping space, albeit at the full-weekend price. 

“People have been willing to pay it to see a full solar eclipse. Everybody’s got their own hobbies, but I can respect theirs,” said Shinn. 

The event provides space for nearly 70 local vendors. One booth, in the middle of the square, is where Frank Piekarski is selling his gemstones. His sister and friend are selling eclipse-themed trinkets in the booth as well. 

Piekarski lives in Portland, but visits his sister in Dallas often. He said he’s never seen it so busy. 

“Mighty downtown Dallas, here we go,” he said. 

Many visitors are just staying in Dallas for the day. Dave Hackos, from Burlingame, California, said he and his family are staying in Dundee, outside the path of totality, and came to see if Dallas would be a good spot to watch in the morning. 

“Dallas seemed nice because you’re getting close enough to the center that you’ll have a pretty long eclipse time,” he said. 

Hackos has seen partial eclipses before, but never travelled for one. He said he thinks it will be a profound experience. 

“It’s just going to be this moment of awe about how amazing the universe is. I’ve always wanted to see a real eclipse,” he said. 

His kids, at ages 5 and 9, aren’t quite convinced yet. But Hackos said by tomorrow afternoon, they’ll understand why they made the trip. 

“You don’t have the emotional experience until you’re there seeing it and feeling it,” he said. “They’re not going to know how amazing it is until it happens.” 

Viewer building stokes eclipse excitement

CORVALLIS 5:30 p.m. — There were only supposed to be between 30 and 50 people at the Oregon State University College of Business’ event Sunday, where participants constructed their own solar eclipse viewers.

As it happened, more than 100 people arrived within 45 minutes, forcing organizers to quickly laser cut viewer pieces, find additional work stations and plug in more hot glue guns as crowds poured into the Business DAMlab makerspace.

Makerspace manager Dale McCauley called the event “barely controlled chaos.”

It became clear early on they did not have enough materials for everyone who was interested, but, at worst, the people who wanted to assemble a viewer just had to wait a few minutes for an out-of-stock piece to be cut.

“But it’s OK. We’ll go until we run out,” McCauley said.

McCauley designed the viewers himself, which are simply a wooden rectangular box with a small hole drilled into the middle of one of the short ends and a viewing cutout on a side piece toward the other end. Inside the box is a small piece of white paper near the viewing cutout.

Eclipse watchers simply point the small hole at the sun and look inside the box toward the piece of white paper. The eclipse phases should appear, visible without any chance of eye damage.

“Very foolproof,” McCauley said.

Erika Giles from Portland already had solar eclipse glasses, but she said she is going to use the viewing box, too.

“Even with the glasses, I’m not sure about staring at the sun for that long,” Giles said.

George Lessens, a television meteorologist from Michigan visiting with his Portland-based daughter, was practically giddy when he got a look at the viewer design and the event OSU organized.

“I’m stealing this for 2024,” Lessens said. “This is a cool idea.”

— Connor Radnovich

More:Scientists to study 'breath of the land' during eclipse in Corvallis, Oregon

OMSI preps Capitol visitors for eclipse

SALEM, 5:10 p.m.  – State Capitol rooms usually used for debating bills were transformed into classrooms Sunday as a top Oregon Museum of Science and Industry official gave visitors a primer on Monday’s total solar eclipse.

The talk, by OMSI Director of Space Science Education Jim Todd, filled at least three hearing rooms.

The sheer speed of the eclipse shadow’s race across the country is remarkable.

It will take nine minutes for the shadow to cross Oregon and 90 minutes to cross the U.S., Todd said. When the shadow reaches Georgia, Oregon viewers will still be able to see a partial eclipse.

But here’s the cool thing: People who can see a horizon may see the shadow race from the west, come over them, then head east.

This won’t be the last eclipse you can catch in Oregon.

In October 2023, there will be an eclipse viewable over Crater Lake. The next total eclipse you can see in the U.S. will come in 2024, though Oregon will only get a partial eclipse then.

Oregon’s next total solar eclipse will come in 2108 and will be a “sunset totality,” Todd said.

“And the shadow only moves in five miles in on the coast,” Todd said. “Can you imagine (Highway) 101?”

To watch the partial eclipse anywhere, you need to take care of your eyes.

Fake eclipse-viewing glasses have hit the market, but Todd had this advice: If you can see your hand or clouds through glasses, they are counterfeit.

Worried about yours? Eclipse glasses are going to be handed out Monday morning on the Capitol’s front steps starting at 8 a.m.

— Jonathan Bach  

Astronomers, pro and am, invade Oregon State Fairgrounds

SALEM, 4:30 p.m. — The Rose City Astronomers were setting up their booth at the Oregon State Fairgrounds Sunday afternoon, preparing for the rush of eclipse viewers anticipated for Monday.

The nearly 30-year-old nonprofit will have demonstrations, hand outs and other materials at its tent. Organizers said they will be on the grounds Monday morning by about 4:30 a.m. to open on time for the 6 a.m. attendees.

Some of the group's members, like Marc Singleton, came all the way from Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada. Singleton, an amateur astronomer, joined the group recently. He's seen many lunar eclipses but is excited to see his first solar eclipse.

The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, the party responsible for events at the fairgrounds for the eclipse, is anticipating 8,500 participants Monday. There will be presentations by space science experts, educational demonstrations and activities, and local astronomy organizations, like Rose City.

— Natalie Pate

Traffic still flowing through Mid-Valley

SALEM, 3:50 p.m. — Traffic is picking up in the Willamette Valley and at the coast, transportation officials said Sunday afternoon.

But it’s still not at capacity.

“The last couple days it was kind of like the local folks stayed home because they were worried about other folks coming,” Angela Beers Seydel, a spokeswoman for the Oregon Department of Transportation, said. “Today seems more like a normal summer day.”

ODOT officials remain on alert for traffic problems and are monitoring forest fires, she said.

— Tracy Loew

More:Families, friends travel to Oregon to experience more than an eclipse

Eclipse tourists swarm Salem brunch spots

SALEM, 3:45 p.m. — Eclipse tourists have finally descended upon Salem, and according to Salem brunch spots, they're hungry. 
 
Brunch servers around Salem are seeing a new slew of guests since early this morning, with tourists hailing from New York, Washington and California braving three-hour waits at Word of Mouth and the non-stop bustle at the Sassy Onion.
 
At Word of Mouth, guests simply put their name on the list and leave; at noon, waits hit the three-hour-and-45-minute-mark. But for Word of Mouth, the extremely popular breakfast spot in Northeast Salem, those waits aren't exactly unusual.
 
"This restaurant is busy a lot, and there's been the same wait both days," said server Kelsi Amouak. "The people are different, and I think, because we're so busy, the influx just wasn't as much."

Shann and Noel Soishak came down for the eclipse last night from Bellevue, Washington. As they waited, they chatted with Jeff Buege of Yakima, Washington, who had just arrived Sunday morning. They found the restaurant's high Yelp rating, and decided it was worth a visit. 

At the Sassy Onion down the street, manager Shawn Kingman has had a long day. He's had crowds since he started at 7 a.m. The good news: He says he's almost doubled profits today compared to yesterday.

"Yesterday was really slow, actually, it wasn't as bad," Kingman said. "It's been busy all day, since we opened the doors.

"For instance, yesterday we were bringing in around $4,500 and today we've just passed $7,000."

— Brooke Jackson-Glidden

Salem airport waits for the crowds

SALEM, 3:15 p.m. — The Salem Airport is expecting more than 100 planes to arrive by morning. Amanda Baker, a server at the Flight Deck Restaurant and Lounge at the airport, said plane parking is first-come-first-served. She said overnight parking isn’t allowed, that’s why there are only a handful of planes currently parked at the airport. Based on the number of calls they’ve received, they’re expecting more than 100 planes to arrive in time for the total solar eclipse.

“We’ve been told it’s going to be packed,” Baker said.

— Danielle Peterson

Previously:Eclipse will drive heavy air traffic to Salem's McNary Field

Out-of-state visitors impressed by Salem

SALEM, 2:30 p.m. — There are still camping spots available at Riverfront Park and Wallace Marine Park in Salem, as of this afternoon. 

Tom Warren of San Diego, California, arrived last night at Wallace Marine Park. It wasn’t his original plan but he said he’s glad how it worked out. 

“I was driving up from California and my brother texted me images from the Oregon Highway Patrol and I looked at the picture and it was like the ending scene in “Field of Dreams” with cars 15 miles backed up and I took a left and drove to Salem instead,” Warren said. 

Mark Ahlers of Seattle was setting up and testing his camera gear from his campsite with a view of the Union Street Pedestrian Bridge. 

He said he was pleasantly surprised to learn that the City of Salem isn’t charging campers to set up for the eclipse. 

“Next time I’m going down the I-5 corridor, I’m going to make a special effort to stop in Salem,” Ahlers said. “I’ve driven down Interstate 5 many times and I wouldn’t have thought to come here. The city, whoever thought about this was so much smarter thinking about the long-term, instead of trying to make a quick buck. Kudos to Salem.”

— Danielle Peterson

Procrastinating? Check the Capitol Monday morning

SALEM – Haven’t gotten eclipse glasses yet? The Oregon State Capitol has you – specifically, your eyes – covered.

You can snag a free pair of eclipse glasses at the Capitol, where 1,000 pairs a day are being given away.

The giveaway started Sunday morning on the front steps of the Capitol, according to a news release. It starts again 8 a.m. Monday.

Then, Rose City Astronomers President Margaret McCrea will start her narration of the eclipse around 9:05 a.m. Monday as part of the Oregon State Capitol Foundation Speaker Series. Seating at the Capitol Mall for the eclipse is free.

— Jonathan Bach

Washington Sisters hit the Oregon trail for eclipse view

NE Salem, Sunday 1:30 p.m. — Dina Davis and Helen Kane were not about to miss the total solar eclipse. The two sisters were scouting out a city park in Salem to camp out Sunday afternoon, having driven down from Seattle and Stanwood, Washington to be in the path of totality. 

The two travel around their corner of the country to any eclipses, mostly partial. Kane said it's the rarity of the celestial phenomena that draws her interest. 

They each remembered seeing the country's last total solar eclipse. They stacked photo negatives to be able to look up at the eclipse. Kane has used #14 welder's glass before. This year, they have standard (though fancy) eclipse glasses.

"I'm here to see the sun's corona... to see the sky go black," Davis said. "I've heard this is going to be a magical moment and I wanna see it!" 

The two came prepared. They drove down early, they booked a hotel for the night after the eclipse, they asked friends and family in Salem about the best parks to camp in. They were scouting out Lansing and McKay Parks in northeast Salem on Sunday after a friend recommended Lansing as a less known or populated park. 

Davis and Kane even brought buckets and toilet paper, should they need. But not to worry, the City of Salem set up portable toilets for viewers' comfort.

— Natalie Pate 

Coast hotels still have rooms

There is still room in Newport for last-minute eclipse searchers to rest their heads before the big event Monday morning. 

Several motels and hotels along Highway 101 still have rooms for as little as $169 and as high as $699. 

The expected sell-out had yet to occur as of Sunday morning due to last-minute cancellations, and fear of massive traffic and possible fog Monday morning, hotel reps said. 

Price-wise, not all places were charging sky-high rates. 

Cyndi Sickinger, the manager at the Newport Bay Motel, had one room left, a suite for $169. 

"We didn't go above and beyond $500 and $600," she said. "When a guest stays and gets charged too much, they're not happy with their stay."

But Chuck Cummings, who runs three motels in the area, including the Comfort Inn by the water, said it was worth it. "Any time you get a higher rate it is better for my owners, my employees and my pocketbook," he said. "Plus, it really helps the economy."

Cummings predicted his properties will all be sold out by night's end.

— Anna Reed

U-pick or U-watch

FORDYCE FARM, SALEM — Harold and Peg Allen of Fawnskin, California packed up their trailer, dune buggy and menagerie of pets to catch the eclipse on Monday. The retired couple is the first to arrive for camping on the you-pick farm, and have spent most of the day relaxing with their two dogs and cliff swallow, Itsy.

"She loves Western music," Allen said of Itsy. "We'll play it and she sings along!"

The family parked behind a shed at the you-pick farm, near a few hay bale forts and fields of corn.

"They've fixed it up really charmingly," Allen said of the farm. "We've seen kids climbing on the hay bales already."

The two plan to watch the eclipse on the farm.

"This should be eclipse central, from what we hear," Harold Allen said.

After the main event, the five will head to Florence to dune-buggy.

— Brooke Jackson-Glidden

Eclipse glasses available for homeless

SALEM — Organizations and agencies across  Salem are teaming up to make sure some of our most vulnerable community members are safe for the eclipse.

The Union Gospel Mission has enough eclipse glasses to serve the nearly 40 men in its program, as well as about 500 pairs to give out to people in need on the day. They are holding the glasses until Monday to make sure they stay in pristine condition for optimum protection. 

Officials at Union Gospel said they are at capacity and with a waiting list right now, but that is common for the downtown shelter. There are close to 900 people who are considered to be homeless in the Marion and Polk counties, according to last year's homeless count report. Simonka Place, a women's shelter in Keizer, will also provide glasses to those staying there. 

Jon Reeves, executive director of the Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency, said his organization had about 100 glasses to disperse and may still have some left. 

Because the office, 615 Commercial St NE, is closed this weekend, Reeves said the glasses are in a bin in front of the door for people to access. Other community partners have donated glasses to local early learning hub and day care facilities to help children in the area. 

"We don't want anyone looking up ... and getting hurt," he said. 

 — Natalie Pate

More:Scientists to study 'breath of the land' during eclipse in Corvallis, Oregon

Restaurants still waiting for the eclipse crowds

DOWNTOWN SALEM — The consensus among Salem restaurants is that Eclipse Saturday was the same as any other.

While some restaurants saw a small uptick during the lunch rush, others reported slower-than-normal business.

"Nothing! Mostly hype! Salem is deader than normal!" cried the Twitter account of La Margarita, a Mexican restaurant downtown.

The twitter account of Andaluz, a tapas restaurant nearby, agreed. Andaluz is owned by a relative of the La Margarita owners.

Some have guessed that, while some tourists have arrived, all the locals have chosen to stay home.

"It's been pretty chill," said Archive barista Cassie Kostenko. "There haven't been as many regulars, but a lot of new faces."

Alyssa Johnson of Georgetown, Texas, grabbed a coffee with her family at Archive in the afternoon. She and her husband, Brett Johnson, decided to visit family in Salem without knowing about the potential eclipse crowds this weekend.

"I honestly didn't know the date or even what month it was," Alyssa Johnson said.

The two flew into Portland International Airport yesterday and grabbed a shuttle, expecting crowds. They arrived far earlier than their Salem family expected.

Meredith Wiggers, a local, stopped into Bo & Vine with family for lunch.

"We got stir-crazy, preparing for the apoc-eclipse," Wiggers said. "We gassed up and there was plenty of gas, no one there, so we decided to paint the town!"

--Brooke Jackson-Glidden

More:Smoke forecast for Oregon eclipse day: Good news for Willamette Valley, bad news for Cascades

Volcanoes player excited for Eclipse Game

KEIZER – Volcanoes outfielder Logan Baldwin is looking forward to Monday’s total solar eclipse.

He’ll be part of the first eclipse delay in baseball history.

The Eclipse Game between the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes and Hillsboro Hops begins at 9:35 a.m Monday at Volcanoes Stadium., and will be delayed after the first inning in preparation for totality at 10:17 a.m.

“I’ve never been part of an eclipse before so I’m excited to see that,” Baldwin said before Saturday’s game against the Hops. “And then to be the first baseball game to be stopped (due to the eclipse), and then watch the eclipse happen. ...  The stadium’s gonna be packed. It should be neat.”

Former Volcanoes manager Tom Trebelhorn, who was at Volcanoes Stadium on Saturday to work with Volcanoes players, was a teacher at Jefferson High School in Portland during the last solar eclipse to reach Oregon in 1979. Monday’s event will be the first total solar eclipse in the United States since 1918.

Trebelhorn plans to be near Newport on Monday when totality arrives.

“Once in a lifetime and cool for the kids,” said Trebelhorn, who is a minor league instructor for the San Francisco Giants.  “It should be really neat for the spectators.”

Volcanoes officials said a limited number of general admission tickets ($35) in the Berm and Bleachers and Party Patio ($50) were still available Saturday. For information visit volcanoesbaseball.com or call 503-390-2225.

-- Gary Horowitz

More:Growing fire near Sisters dampens eclipse party

Hundreds make their way to Salem parks for overnight stays

SALEM, 10 a.m. – Campers are filing into Salem’s parks, taking advantage of overnight stays allowed last night and tonight before Monday’s eclipse.

A city of Salem estimate puts 421 people over 15 parks, with the most – 110 – setting up Wallace Marine Park. Salem’s Riverfront Park and Minto-Brown Island Park came in a close second with an estimated 75 visitors each.

At Woodmansee Park were about 45 people, and 40 at Bush’s Pasture Park.

Public Works Operations Manager Mark Becktel said people are coming from Texas, Oklahoma and other parts of Oregon.

Asked how many people were expected over the day, Becktel said, “I wish I knew.”

“In fact, we’re surprised to a point that the traffic has been so light and the visitor load has been so light,” he said.

City officials made the estimation by counting heads, guessing how many people could stay in a tent or counting the number of camps set up and multiplying that figure by three people.

— Jonathan Bach

Plenty of open campsites at Detroit’s Piety Island

DETROIT, 9:45 a.m. – One of the best campsites to view the total solar eclipse still has plenty of open spaces, just one day before the big event.

Detroit Lake’s Piety Island Campground — which requires boat-in access — still has nine campsites open at one of the best places to view the eclipse in the reservoir.

Sites are $10 per night.

“Plenty of beach space to view the eclipse,” Forest Service recreation manager Josh Weathers said.

There’s also boat launching and vehicle/trailer parking available at Mongold State Park ($5 per day) or Hoover, Cove Creek, or Southshore campgrounds ($7 per day).

Once again, Detroit has been mellow — quiet almost — even though the sun has mostly been shining and smoke hasn’t been too bad.

— Zach Urness

Good morning from a little above Madras

SOLARTOWN, MADRAS, 9 a.m. – It is eight stories tall and powered by two engines that crank out 30 million BTUs, which is comparable to 65 house heaters.

It can hold 120,000 basketballs, and the air inside weighs 9,229 pounds.

The trivia oozes from pilot Brann Smith this morning as he prepares to give tethered balloon rides to campers at Solartown just outside Madras.

He and his wife, Marie, are with Skydancer Balloon Company. Their sunshiny yellow balloon with orange and red geometric accents, designed by Marie, is a popular attraction.

Dozens of people were lining up to take rides after windy conditions grounded the balloon the Saturday. Rides are $30 a person and last just a couple of minutes. Four to five people can ride at a time.

Statesman Journal photographer Molly J. Smith went up with a mother and two sons from Lake Oswego, capturing photographs of the expansive north side of Solartown.

Skydancer Balloon Company plans to offer rides from 7 to 9 a.m. Monday morning before the eclipse and before the FAA restricts air space in the area to make room for a swarm of aircraft landing across the street at Madras Municipal Airport.

More than 400 planes are expected, and the airport manager anticipates a stretch where one plane will land every 3 minutes.

The Smiths, who live in Chino, California, spent most of the summer traveling to festivals. Next up they will be in Albany on Aug. 25-27 for the Northwest Art & Air Festival at Timber Linn Park.

-— Capi Lynn

Sunday morning weather, traffic looking good

If the crowds that were expected to clog roadways Friday and Saturday didn't materialize, they have not yet taken to the roadways.  Or, at least there are not enough cars to make an impact on road conditions so far today.

As for the weather, forecasts are still looking to be good for watching the sun disappear Monday morning. Even at the coast, The Weather Channel is predicting mostly sunny conditions at Lincoln City, while Newport is still showing partly cloudy conditions.

More:Will Salem be sunny or cloudy on eclipse day? Here's what recent history tells us

Campers start setting up in Salem parks

SALEM – A year ago, Selly Beyene’s family started working on plans for a summer vacation and they considered grand places to visit in the United States. 

But the budding astronomer convinced her family that on her 12th birthday – which was Saturday – she wanted to come to Salem, Oregon and camp so she could be in town in time for the Aug. 21 total solar eclipse. 

The view from her home in Olympia, Washington wasn’t going to be good enough. 
“Like 92 percent you can see it,” Beyene said. “I want to see where the moon covers all of the sun.”

Beyene and her family were among the first people to set up tents at Riverfront Park in Salem Saturday afternoon. 

But by sunset there were dozens of tents being set up by people from all around the country who came to Salem for The Great American Eclipse. 

More:Eclipse campers begin to trickle into Salem parks